Filing cabinet



FILING CABINET Filed May 10. '1943 Patented Mar. 27,` 1945 FimNG oAl'slNEr Walter F. aegenhardt, Wooster, ohm Application May 10, 1943, Serial No.f486,379

7 claims. (ci. ii-+126) This invention relates generally to office equipment and is more particularly directed to filing drawers and parts therefor.

Specifically, this invention relates to the provision of a simple, practical, pull handle for file drawers which is exceptionally adapted for use on drawers constructed of non-strategiclmaterials, such as ber board, wood, plastics and the like.

One of the objects of the invention resides in the formation of an improved pull handle which may be applied to a file drawer without the use of special fasteners or tools and by relatively unskilled labor in a minimum of time.

Another object is the construction of a pull handlein which a small amount of sheet. metal will be employed, the material used being of relatively light gauge but the parts being so shapedl as to afford a maximum degree of strength.`

A further object resides in so forming the pull handle that the parts thereof will have a clamping engagement with the section of the drawer to which they are applied, and will protect the.

drawer and materials filed therein from undue wear in the region of the handle.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a pull handle having a clip for contacting the outer surface of the drawer front and a rectangular extension at the back for insertion in an opening in the drawer front, the extension cooperating with a locking device within the drawer to retain the pull handle in assembled relation# ship with the drawer.

A further object of this invention is `to provide a block, preferably of wood, within the confinesv of the, rectangular extension to prevent the side members'of the extension from being deformed inwardly and to limit the heightof the rblock to the height of the rectangularl extensionnto thereby increase the surface in contact with-the portion of the front wall immediatelyabove and below the opening yprovided therein and in this way prevent any cutting of the front wall by the sharp top and bottom edges fof the rectangular extension, another object of the block being to provide friction and assist in holding the locking device tightly in place.

Another object of this invention is to prevent the defacing of any papers within said le drawer which may come in contact withthe sharp edges of the spaced ends which form a part of the rectangular extension, by providing the locking means with a reinforcing rib which is disposed between the spaced ends to provide a smooth surface with which the papers may contact.

3 Fig. 3; and

Another object resides in so forming the means for locking the pull handle to the drawer that it will be capable yof withstanding the load imposed when a force is applied to the pull handle to open the drawer while it is loaded, the

locking means also being of such size that this load will be distributed overa large area of the drawer front.

Further objectsl and advantages will be apparent from the following description, reference being'hadto'the accompanying drawing wherein preferred forms of Aembodiments of the present invention are clearly shown.

- AIn the drawing: 'f

Fig. 1 is'aperspective view showing .a file drawer and the pull 4handle assembled;

Fig. 2 is a top view ofthe pull handle with the flaps which make up the front wall of the drawer being shown in section;

Iig. 3 `is a side view of the pull handle, the front wall'of the -file drawer also being shown in section;

Fig; 4 is a sectional view of the pull handle taken on a plane indicated by the line 4--4 of f Fig. 5 is a perspective view ofthe locking or positioning member.

Referring to the` drawing, there is shown a file drawer il), having a front wall l2, a rear wall l5, side walls lliv and Ill and a bottom wall I8. The drawer, in the immediate case, is formed o f a single sheet ofcardboard, cut and folded to form a drawer of the desired height and length. Preferably, the front wall l2 is reinforced by forming the same of triple thickness,l

i; e., the frontwall is formed of flaps I6', l1' and IB', extending from the side walls I6 and I'l and the bottom wall I8.' The walls are held together in anysuitable manner.

The front wall l2 is provided with a pull handle I4 comprising a` rectangular sheet metal member l2l).A The member 20 consists of a yoke 2,|\.with side members 22 extending rearwardly and perpendicularly to said yoke 2|. v The outer portions of the side members 22 are bent toward one another to provide spaced end members 23 which are spaced from the yoke 2l, a distance slightly in excess of the thickness of the front wall of the drawer. The yoke 2| is attached to a clip 24 in any suitable mannner, preferably by welding, which clip is formed from ja rectangular piece of sheet metal stamped to 4provide a longitudinally extending channel 25 opening toward the rear surface of the clip. Extending through the channel 25 is a handle 26 which is formed of a length of heavy gauge wire, bent to the desired shape and to provide spaced oppositely directed ends. The clip 24 has an indentation 21 formed centrally of the length of the channel 25, the spaced ends of the wire handle 26 being disposed on either side of the indentation 21 to center the handle 26 relative to the width of the drawer I 0.

Provided in the space formed by the yoke 2|, side members 22, and the ends 23 is a block of wood 28. side members 22 from being deformed inwardly and is so placed therebetween as to be flush with the top and bottom of the yoke 2| and the side members 22.

A rectangular opening I3 is out through all of the flaps of the wall I2 to provide a passage for entry of the rectangular member 28 with the block of w'ood 28 positioned therein. A secondary function of the block 28 is to prevent the sharp top and bottom edges of the rectangular sheet metal member 28 from cutting into the cardboard immediately above andy below the opening I3. After the insertion and the proper positioning of the rectangular member 20, with the block 28 therein, in the opening I3 the rear end of the block 28 is in alignment with the inner surface of the front wall I2. Provided be-v tween therblock of wood 28 and the inwardlyy bent end members 23 is an aperture 29 in which there is inserted a locking member 30 which is frictionally held between the block of wood r28 and the flexible ends 23 of the sheet metal member 20.- The locking member 30includes a wedge shaped rib 3| formed centrally and longitudinally thereof and having aange 32 on each side. The flanges on one end of the locking member 30 are tapered to permit the ready insertion of the locking member 30 into the aperture 29 between the block of wood 28 and the end members 23 of the rectangular member 20. The locking member 3U is so inserted in place as to have the rib 3| pass between the end members 23 and thereby prevent the sharp edges 33 from cutting any papers that may come in contact therewith. Due to the wedge shape of the rib 3|, the end members 23 will be forced outwardly and will cause the side members 22 to rmly contact the front wall at the edges of the opening. The rib 3| also reinforces the locking member 30 to prevent deformation upon the application ofv force to the pull handle I4. The locking member is held in place by the friction provided by the block of wood 28 and the flexibility possessed by the end members 23. The locking member 30 extends above and below the opening I3 and the anges 32 of the locking member 30 rest against the inner ap I6" of the iront wall I2 to thereby hold the pull handle I4 in place and transmits the entire force expended in opening the drawer to the front wall I2.

While the forms of embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other The block of wood 28 prevents the forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim: Y

1. In a drawer, a pull handle comprising a clip, a member projecting therefrom having rearwardly extending sides terminating in inwardly directed ends, and locking means frictionally secured between said sides and in iront of said inwardly directed ends.

2. In a drawer, a pull handle comprising a clip, a member projecting therefrom having rearwardly extending sides terminating in inwardly directed ends, a block within said member, and

locking means slidably disposed between said block and said inwardly directed ends.

3. In a drawer, a pull handle comprising a clip, a member projecting therefrom having rearwardly extending sides terminating in inwardly directed ends, a block within said member, the height of said block being equal to that of said member, and locking means slidably disposed between said block and said inwardly directed ends'.

4. In a drawer, a pull handle comprising a clip, a member projecting therefrom having rearwardly extending sides terminating in inwardly directed ends, and locking means frictionally secured between said sides and in front oi said inwardly directed ends, the ends of said locking means projecting beyond the connes of said member.

5. A pull handle comprising a clip, spaced rearwardly directed arms' on said clip, spaced inturned extensions provided on the rear ends of said arms, and locking means having a wedgeshaped rib frictionally disposed between said arms and in front of said extensions, the wedge shape of said rib exerting a spreading force on said extensions.

6. In an object having a wall with an opening formed therein, a pull handle for said object having aclip in contact with the front of said wall, spaced arms projecting rearwardly from said clip and disposed adjacent the sides of the opening in said wall, inturned extensions at the rear ends of said arms, a locking strip inserted between said arms and in front of said extensions, and means disposed between said arms to hold said locking strip in frictional engagement with said extensions.

7. In an object having a wall with an opening formed therein, a pull handle for said object having a clip in contact with the front of said wall, spaced arms extending rearwardly from said clip and disposed adjacent the sides of the opening in said wall, inwardly directed extensions at the rear ends of said arms, said extensions being located immediately beyond 'the rear surface of said Wall, a locking strip inserted between said extensions and the rear surface of said wall, and a block member disposed between said arms, said block member being substantially equal in thickness to said wall. l

WALTER F. REGENHARDT. 

